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Oklahoma County court briefs for Feb. 1, 2020

The alleged gunman in a fatal shooting will face trial, a judge ruled Friday. Prosecutors allege Marcus Allen Sanders, 34, shot and killed Edward Cornelius, 49, on Aug. 31, as Cornelius ran from an apartment complex in the 4100 block of NW 10.

A resident of the complex who testified at Sanders' preliminary hearing identified the defendant as the shooter. The witness told Oklahoma County Special Judge Lisa Hammond he heard what sounded like fighting next door then saw Cornelius running from the apartment carrying a blue bag under his right arm.

The witness said he saw another man give chase, crouch down and start "firing rounds" at the victim.

"I stood there in shock," the witness said. "It was like a train wreck. I couldn't look away."

The witness said the gunman turned around, "looked me straight in the eye and told me I didn't see anything."

Sanders, also known as "Quello," occasionally sold marijuana and loaned money to the witness, he testified. The defendant's attorney contends that another man inside the apartment shot Cornelius.

Molestation conviction brings 10-year setence

A 79-year-old man accused of molesting multiple children over a 14-year period was sentenced on Friday to 10 years in prison. Wsbaldo Peres Valdez pleaded guilty to one count of sexual battery and no contest to one count of sexual battery and 11 counts of indecent or lewd acts with a child under 16.

A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt, but is treated as a criminal conviction. Valdez avoided a jury trial by making a deal with prosecutors. The defendant admitted in court paperwork to touching one of the victims "in a lewd and lascivious manner to arouse sexual interests."

Jury convicts man of shooting at occupied house

On Thursday, a jury convicted a 29-year-old Oklahoma City man of shooting at a house across the street with four people inside. Prosecutors alleged Deontel Robert Harris fired 12 shots at the house on May 3, 2018, because he wanted a car moved so his girlfriend could back out of his driveway.

Two of the four people inside the house told police Harris, known as "Savage," approached them after the shooting and said he shot "because they wouldn't move their car," according to a court affidavit.

Jurors found Harris guilty of assault with a dangerous weapon, discharging a weapon into a dwelling, and assault and battery with a deadly weapon and recommended he serve a combined 75 years in prison. Jurors also convicted Harris of being a felon in possession of a firearm and recommended a prison sentence of seven years.

Harris has a previous felony convictions for shooting with intent to kill and served 10 years in prison. He was released 10 months before the shooting, prosecutors said.

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Tim Willert

Tim Willert is a native Californian with Oklahoma ties who covers K-12 education, including Oklahoma City Public Schools and the state Education Department. Before that he covered district, federal and appellate courts in Oklahoma County. Prior...
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